South Sudan's number of COVID-19 cases increased on Friday by 22 to 2,058, while the death toll remained unchanged at 38, the Ministry of Health reported.

The new cases were detected after 56 tests were conducted by the Public Health Laboratory in the past 24 hours, according to the ministry.

Of the 22 new cases, 17 are males and five are females.

The ministry said the cumulative number of recoveries in the country now stands at 594. It added that a total of 483 contacts that were being traced have been reached.

 A total of 4,206 contacts have so far completed their mandatory 14-day follow-up, according to the ministry.

South Sudan has been fighting against COVID-19 since April.